Blackhawks' Duncan Keith: Minutes to be monitored once healthy

Keith will have his minutes managed carefully once he returns from his knee injury, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Analysis:

Keith was the 12th-most utilized defenseman last season, averaging 30.1 shifts and 25:16 of ice time per contest, but the Blackhawks have wisely decided to hold him out of the first four preseason games and put his playing time under a microscope in effort to avoid wear and tear on his knee before the regular season even begins. Keith was quite efficient last season, finding twine nine times to go along with 34 helpers in just 67 games.